Tactical quick transition sling (TQT sling)

ABSTRACT

What primarily makes this invention unique is how it is used. Most other slings wrap around the user&#39;s body causing discomfort and difficulty in transitioning the weapon to the opposite shoulder; this sling attaches to the user&#39;s tactical vest at each shoulder, allowing for maximum comfort, weight distribution, and smooth easy transitions to either shoulder. Most other slings remain attached to the weapon; this sling remains attached to the user&#39;s tactical vest, but can quickly be removed by two snaps. Most other slings attach to two points on the rifle or shotgun with a strap between the two points, causing the strap(s) of the sling to interfere with the functional operation of the weapon; this sling has a single attachment via the attachment clip with no interference of any kind. All points of attachment are designed for quick release and connection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUESNCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to the field of military and law enforcement.This invention fits into the classification of Class 85—Gun Trimmings,Subclass 150—Sling attached to rifle or shotgun. This invention,however, does not remain attached to the rifle or shotgun, but insteadremains attached to the user's tactical vest and attaches to the rifleor shotgun only by a single clip eliminating the problem of the rifle orshotgun being strapped to the body and the sling interfering with thefunctional operation of the rifle or shotgun.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is quiet, durable, fully adjustable, compact, lightweight,and completely versatile. It is created for maximum effectiveness andweight distribution. There are no parts to get in the way of performingany task or cause any the user any discomfort. The invention does notwrap around the body or neck. It does not get caught up in the user'sgear. The invention does not have to be taken off of the user totransition the rifle or shotgun to the user's opposite shoulder as mostslings do. The invention does not position the rifle or shotgun so thatit protrudes beyond the user's body; keeping the user from gettingcaught up on their surroundings, slowing the user down, or making noise.There are no straps to block the bolt catch/release, magazine release,safety, or fire selector switch of their rifle or shotgun.

The invention is designed so that the user won't have any difficultytransitioning their rifle or shotgun to either shoulder at any time,dropping it to go hands free, transitioning to their side arm, orquickly getting back onto target. The invention attaches to preexistingloops on the shoulders of the user's tactical vest forming a “U” shape,allowing their rifle or shotgun to hang equally from both shoulders sothe weight of their weapon is evenly displaced in the center of theirbody. The user also has the option of letting out a little slack to sidesling their rifle or shotgun and still come up on target in no time. Ifthe user ever needs to attach or detach their weapon in a hurry, asimple press of a finger on the sturdy connecting clip and the rifle orshotgun will be attached or detached.

For those that may not have a designated space on their rifle or shotgunto clip on the sling, the invention also has an additional attachmentthat accompanies the sling which will allow the user to attach the slingto their rifle or shotgun where they see fit. The invention offers twotypes of attachment clips; a swivel trigger clip that opens anoverlapping metal ring with the squeeze of the thumb or a carabineerstyle snap hook that opens a bail with the press of the thumb.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Page 1 of 2, FIG. 1: This drawing depicts the invention in whole. Thearrows demonstrate the direction of possible movement. It shows how theinvention is attached, operated, and adjusted. Pt. 1 shows theattachment straps in the closed position and depicts how they open up sothat they can be attached to the user's vest, and then close to snapinto place. Pt. 2 shows that if the quick release buckles are pressed oneach side, the sling will detach from the attachment straps. Pt. 3 showsthat the adjustment straps can either move up or down allowing for ortaking away slack in the sling. Pt. 4 shows how the attachment clipeasily slides along the sling in either direction allowing for thesmooth and easy transition of the user's rifle or shotgun to eithershoulder. Pt. 5 shows the two attachment clips in the closed positionand how they function.

Page 2 of 2, FIG. 1A: This drawing depicts a more detailed view of howthe attachment and connection points are operated. The top portionsshows the attachment straps in the open position and depicts how theyopen and close. The circles within the attachment straps are the snapfasteners which snap together to close the strap or pull apart to openthe strap. The middle portion shows how the quick release buckles in thedetached position and depicts how they attach to and detach from theattachment straps. The bottom portion shows how the adjustment strapsslide up or down to allow for or take away slack in the sling.

Page 2 of 2, FIG. 1B: This drawing shows the attachment clips in theopen position and depicts how they are operated.

Page 2 of 2, FIG. 1C: This drawing depicts what the invention would looklike while in use. It attaches to each of the user's shoulders on theirtactical vests and forms a “U” shape across the user's chest.

Page 2 of 2, FIG. 2: This drawing depicts the additional attachmentstrap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Materials used in the invention: Tightly woven black in color nylonwebbing commonly used in military style backpacks, one inch (1″) wide,one millimeter (1 mm) or two millimeters (2 mm) in thickness; black incolor fifteen millimeter (15 mm) wide DOT Durable snap fasteners; oneand one quarter inch (1¼″) wide by two and a half inch (2½″) longNational Molding Side Squeeze quick release buckles for one inch (1″)webbing; brass swivel trigger snap, one inch (1″) wide by two and a halfinch (2½″) long, painted black, or black in color metal snap hook, oneand a half inch (1½″) wide by two inch (2″) long, both for one inch (1″)webbing; welded metal Dee ring, one and a half inch (1½″) wide by oneand a quarter inch (1¼″) long for one inch (1″) webbing; black in colornylon plastic triglide, one and a quarter inch (1¼″) wide by fourteensixteenths of an inch ( 14/16″) long for one inch (1″) webbing; andnylon thread.

Components of the invention: Each complete sling will require two (2)complete snap fasteners (cap, socket, stud, post), approximately seveninches (7″) of webbing for the attachment straps, adequate amount ofthread to sew down and reinforce webbing around snap fasteners and pulltab on attachment straps, two (2) complete quick release buckles (topand bottom components), approximately thirty inches (30″) of webbing forthe sling, adequate amount of thread to sew down and reinforce webbingaround the pull tab on adjustment straps, one (1) attachment clip ofeither the swivel trigger snap or snap hook, approximately twelve inches(12″) of webbing for the additional attachment strap, one (1) Dee ring,one (1) triglide, adequate amount of thread to sew down and reinforcewebbing around the triglide.

Assembling the invention: Begin by punching a hole in one of the seveninch (7″) attachment straps approximately two inches (2″) from an endand insert the cap/socket portion of the snap fastener, then punchanother hole approximately two and a half inches (2½″) from the firstand insert the stud/post portion of the snap fastener. Loop theremaining webbing material below the stud/post through the top openingin a quick release buckle and sew it down just under the stud/post snapfastener, and again about a quarter of an inch (¼″) lower towards thetop of the quick release buckle. At the opposite end of the attachmentstrap, above the cap/socket portion of the snap fastener, fold over onitself and sew down approximate one quarter of an inch (¼″) of webbingto form a pull tab. Perform the same steps on the other seven inch (7″)piece of webbing to complete the attachment straps as depicted in thetop portion of FIG. 1A. Next insert one end of the long thirty inch(30″) piece of sling webbing through the one inch (1″) opening at thetop of either the swivel trigger snap or the snap hook attachment clipand allow the attachment clip to slide down to about the center of thesling webbing. Feed approximately four inches (4″) of an end of the longsling webbing through the double openings on the bottom portion of aquick release buckle to form the adjustment strap. Do this for the otherend of the thirty inch (30″) webbing as well. Fold the last one inch(1″) of the webbing that was just fed through the bottom portion of eachof the quick release buckles over on themselves and sew them down inwith a pattern of a box with an “X” to form pull tabs. Ensure the snapfasteners are able to open and close, the quick release buckles are ableto attach and detach from each other, the adjustment straps are able toadjust and hold in their position, and the attachment clip is able toslide along the sling webbing. The sling is now complete as depicted inFIG. 1. To assemble the additional attachment strap, feed about one anda half inches (1½″) of an end of the twelve inch (12″) additionalattachment strap through the double openings of a triglide, fold it overon itself, and se it down at the end and just under the triglide. Feedthe opposite end of the additional attachment strap through a dee ring.Slide the dee ring down the webbing until it is about two inches (2″)from the triglide. Pinch the webbing immediately to both sides of thedee ring together and sew them together along the flat side of the deering; keeping it from sliding along the webbing, but still able to pivotin both directions. The additional attachment strap is now complete asdepicted in FIG. 2.

Using the invention: Ensure both the top and bottom portions of thequick release buckles are connected together on each side of the sling.Open each of the attachment straps by pulling on their pull tabs toseparate the snap fasteners as depicted in FIG. 1A. Feed the cap/socketportion of the snap faster at the top of the attachment strap throughany form of preexisting loop on a shoulder of the user's tactical vestand fold it back over to close by reconnecting it the stud/post portionof the snap fastener. Do this on the opposite shoulder as well. Thesling is now attached to the user's vest as depicted in FIG. 1C andready to attach to a rifle or shotgun. Find an attachment point on thedesired weapon, preferably a metal loop of some sort to the rear of thereceiver and trigger area, and simply clip on the attachment clip byopening the bail of the attachment clip as depicted in FIG. 1B, feedingthe attachment clip through the desired attachment point, and allowingit to close. The weapon is now securely attached to the sling. If anattachment point does not exist on the rifle or shotgun then the userwill need to attach the additional attachment strap to the weapon.Locate a section of the rifle or shotgun to the rear of the receiver andtrigger area that the additional attachment strap will fit around.Position the additional attachment strap around the selected section ofthe weapon so that the dee ring is in an easily accessible position andfeed the free end of the strap around the weapon and through the doubleopenings in the triglide, pulling the strap tight. Clip the attachmentclip onto the dee ring in the same fashion as attaching it to the weapondirectly, and the weapon is now securely attached to the sling. Therifle or shotgun will hang down the center of the user's body. Pull downon the adjustment straps to raise or lower the position of the weapon.Grabbing the rifle or shotgun in a normal firing position, simply placethe buttstock of the weapon against either shoulder as desired. If theuser lets go of the rifle or shotgun with both hands, the weapon willfall back into the slung position down the center of the body, allowingfree use of their hands. If the user desires to have the rifle orshotgun slung off center to one side or the other, this can beaccomplished by letting out all of the slack in the adjustment strap ofthe desired side.

1. The unique claim on this invention is to the overall design and useof the sling to primarily include: the concept of attaching the sling tothe user's tactical vest versus wrapping the sling around the user'sbody, the ability of the weapon to remain centered or off to one side ofthe user's body when slung, and the use of quick and easy attachmentpoints to include the attachment straps, quick release buckles, andattachment clips in the manner of connecting the sling to both theuser's vest and weapon.